Norwich University - Convocation Ceremony 9/2/2026

[music] Please stand for the processional if you are able to do so. [music] leading the processional is the mace bearer Dr. Frank Banichek. Greeting the faculty and staff is faculty marshal professor David Bllythe. [music] Please welcome Norwich University's distinguished faculty. Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. N. [music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> And now, please welcome the platform party, which includes Lieutenant President General John J. Brog Meadow, United States Marine Corps retired 25th president of Norwich University, and Dr. Leah M. Williams, Provost and Dean of the Faculty. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Thank Thank you, Miss Dr. Mark Parker, and thank you to our nation's oldest collegiate band. Please remain standing for the presentation of the colors in our national anthem. Unifor 6. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Good. That was worse. Please remain standing for the opening blessing. mean standing for quiet thoughts of your own. If you so choose, please join with me in prayer. Lord God, it's an honor and privilege for us to welcome back to our campus the new and returning collegians from around the world. They're applying their minds, their hearts, their very beings to the task of study. collaboration and cooperation in the classrooms and the laboratories, the venues of athletic competition in the arena, the pitch, red iron pool, the courts, the mats. We welcome the sound of howitzer and cannon blast of buger claws of voices younger and older of collective cadences, musical harmonizations and cheers from crowds, prayers in our chapel, and wise guidance from those who lead and instruct and encourage or support this very special community that's Norwich. Father, I ask for you to sovereignly superintend our campus as our students and our faculty, our staff, administrators are challenged and stretched to manifest the very best of their skills and talents amid continual days of stress because of time pressures and deadlines, the tasks that will demand all that they have to give. So I ask you to strengthen each individual as he or she encounters the challenges of academic study or interpersonal relationships of cultural or social political, philosophical and theological differences. Guide us to maintain our respective distinctiveness yet to compassionately embrace one another as men and women whom you love and would have us live and work together in peace and with genuine encouragement, not discouragement of each other. Many of us older folk recall the horrific events of 911 25 years ago. And still our world in which we live is suffering from conflicts and wars and physical disasters which are tragic and seemingly relentless often quite discouraging. So Lord equip us in such a way that this community on this hill can and will affect a positive difference both locally, nationally and globally. that we could rectify injustice and demonstrate mercy, loving kindness in the manifestation of your grace, humbly serve one another as you'd have us do. May we be or become people who are pleasing in your sight, upholding, blessing, and benefiting all whom we encounter amid our daily walks. We may never be the best, but may we give our best in deference to your perfect will. May we unceasingly strive for excellence and uncompromisingly live with integrity. I ask you to place your hand of blessing upon this our Norwich family as with today's convocation we officially begin our new academic year. I pray this with dependence upon you and in honor of your holy name. Amen. Thank you. Please be seated. Before we get started, I would like you all to join me in thanking the band. They've just been sounding fantastic this year. We really appreciate their support for our convocation ceremony. So, thank you. [applause] >> [applause] >> Welcome, President Broadto, University faculty, staff, students, and friends of the university. As prohost and dean of the faculty, I'm pleased to officially convene Norwich University's convocation 2026. To begin, it's my honor to welcome the platform party. The full list is in the program. Uh so we will say a nice welcome to everybody on stage and you can get more details at the uh code posted on the screens. I would like to recognize distinguished faculty colleagues the Charles A. Dana professors. Would you please stand? All right, let's have a round of applause. [applause] Thank you. Please be seated. Will the Homer El Dodge professors please stand? Let's have a round of applause for them. [applause] Descriptions of the Dodge and Dana professorships and the names of these faculty can also be found in your program. You've just applauded these professors. They have been awarded the highest honors. the faculty confers on its own members for excellence in research and teaching. Some of you are fortunate that you will already be um having class with one of them this semester. So, uh look out for them and uh be aware that they have been awarded these uh special recognitions for their um work and contributions to the community. I hope you're excited about the year ahead of you. I know that you're going to have a lot of distractions. Your jobs, the core of cadetses, ROC, your social networks, your favorite pastimes are going to v for your attention with your classes, your homework, your projects. My most heartfelt wish for you, and I'm speaking here as the university's chief academic officer, is that you find curiosity and passion for the academic work ahead of you this year. Your academics very well may be challenging at times, and they should be. Difficulty is an integral part of the educational process. an assignment or course that you can just coast through, though I know at times that sounds appealing. Uh does not develop your mind or sharpen your critical thinking abilities. The reading that you have to do more than once, maybe twice, maybe three times, a problem set that you think should take an hour but might take four. These are the kinds of assignments and efforts that strengthen your intellectual powers and also teach you persistence. If you get a draft back from a professor with more words of commentary than you actually wrote, take those revisions and tackle them. It teaches you resilience to take criticism, to respond to it. That's how you become a stronger thinker and writer. There are definitely shortcuts out there and I think we all know its name is artificial intelligence. Uh those shortcuts will tempt you. You may wonder or your friends may wonder why you are taking the long route to finish an assignment when an AI tool can do it for you in seconds. I'm going to ask you to stay on the longer and harder path. That is why you are here. There are times when these tools can be constructive, a co-intelligence, not a substitute for your intelligence, and your professor will let you know when and under what conditions you can use them in a course. If you find yourself using them outside of those bounds, you do need to ask yourself a hard question. Why do you want an education in name only? When you are gripped by curiosity, when you are pursuing a question that you feel in your depths, in your bones that you really must find an answer to, you will not look for shortcuts. You will be fully engaged in learning and exploration. And as a result, you will become more thoughtful, more articulate in both writing and speech. We have so many ways for you to ignite your intellectual passions here. You're surrounded by faculty who are doing really amazing research and creative work. Ask them what they're working on and how you can get involved. You might be surprised at the answer when they invite you to join a project, be part of a study, or help them with something in the lab. We have a vibrant undergraduate research program, and I know some of you here have taken part in that program. Look it up. It's on the website. Think about applying for funding. You can be paid to do independent research project. You can take a first step this month actually by participating in what is called QuestFest. Uh the program celebration of curiosity which I just love that it's focused on that you need to find your sense of curiosity and a desire to explore something that you have a burning desire to know more about. Otherwise your education is going to feel long and not particularly meaningful. this program can help you get started. So, look for the flyers, look for the postings around campus. You can also reach out to Allison Neil. She's somewhere around here. Uh she is directing our undergraduate research program. Um and she can give you more information. You can look into studying abroad. Uh we have the center for career readiness and experiential learning. visit it on the second floor of the Wise Campus Center. You can learn learn more about career exploration, engaging um in community service and study abroad. Maybe you would like to have the experience of living somewhere where you don't know the language very well and you don't know the culture. Choose experiences that are not comfortable. Tell yourself that you can do hard things. Many of you, if it were a physical task, there's no doubt about it, right? You tackle it full speed, you need to develop that same intensity and sense of purpose with your intellectual development. So, I believe you can do hard things. I know the staff and faculty gathered here today believe that of you as well. With that, I'm going to invite our student convocation speaker. He has certainly spent the last three years doing hard things. Jose Velasco is a senior majoring in biochemistry. I think we'd all agree that's not a major that you can coast through. Uh he completed his military training this summer and was commissioned as an officer in the National Guard just a few weeks ago. Let's say congratulations to Jose and welcome him to the podium. >> [applause] [applause] >> Good afternoon, Norwich. It is my honor to welcome you to a new academic year. Today, we celebrate the discipline, hard work, and persistence of our students. But we are also celebrating something bigger, the Norwich community that makes student success possible. It is easy to think of academic achievement as an individual effort. We see the names on certificates and awards and we know the hours of studying, writing, practicing and preparing that happen behind the scenes. But none of us succeeds entirely on our own. Behind every accomplishment are professors who make time for us, classmates who study alongside us, friends who keep us going when the work gets difficult, and mentors and leaders who know when we need encouragement, guidance, or simply a little more time to get the job done. That support matters because a Norwich education is about more than earning a degree. It is about developing the critical thinking, discipline, resilience, time management, and character that we will carry with us long after we leave this campus. Whether we serve as military officers, civilian leaders, or pursue any of the many paths available to us, the people we become are shaped by the people who challenge us, support us, and believe in us along the way. To our newest members of the Norwich community, this year will challenge you. The demands of the classroom, the core, athletics, extracurricular activities, and everything in between will sometimes feel like a lot. Give your best to each of them. But more importantly, look out for one another. When someone is struggling, step in. When need help, ask for it. Lean on your classmates and make sure they know they can lean on you. To my fellow upper classmen, remember that progress does not always come with a certificate or an award. Maybe you earned a grade you did not think you could. Maybe you overcame a difficult semester, moved closer to completing your major, or simply became more confident in what you can accomplish. Recognize that progress and build on it. And to our professors, thank you. Thank you for your patience, guidance, compassion, and the investment you make in us every day. Your work is central to everything we celebrate today. So, let's separate let's celebrate those being recognized, cheer for one another, and begin this academic year with a commitment to supporting one another. Now, let's have some fun. Make this our strongest year yet, and see it through together. Thank you, Norwich forever. [applause] I'd now like to welcome Provos Williams back to the podium. >> Thank you, Jose. We wish you the best in your senior year. Now, we will highlight our students accomplishments. First, this is the best way to begin the new year. We will recognize our university scholars, current full-time degree seeking undergraduate students who have attended uh the university for at least the previous two consecutive semesters. These scholars have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.60 to 3.99. 338 of our students earned a grade point average in this range. Their average taken together is 3.8. 179 of these students are members of the core cadetses. So it forms a majority. 35 majors are represented. Of those, criminal justice has 54 students being recognized, one in every six. Nursing has 39. And then with accelerated nursing, the total reaches 50. Those accelerated students have averaged 3.93, the highest of any program, their size on the list, and not one of them finished below a 3.82. 82 144 or 41 rather sorry are seniors the largest class in the group and seniors posted the highest class average. Could all students all university scholars with this grade point average from between 3.6 and 3.99 please stand and be recognized. Let's give them a big round of applause. >> [applause] [applause] >> Thank you. That is a really impress impressive number of students and congratulations for your achievements. Next, we will recognize our university scholars who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 4.0. 39 of our students earned this perfect 4.0. Last year, that number was 32. So, we're inching up a little bit. 19 of the 39 are sophomores, 13 are seniors, seven are juniors. 16 of this group are civilian commuters, the largest share of the group. 12 are members of the core of cadetses and 11 are civilian residents. We have students from cyber security, environmental science, nursing, accelerated nursing. All of those areas place three students in this range. Would all students with this 4.0 GPA please stand and be recognized? Let's give them a big round of [applause] applause. [applause] That is truly truly impressive. Congratulations and uh we wish you a another very productive successful semester. You don't always have to be perfect by the way though. But don't that's not what it's about. Um, okay. We're going to move on to recognition of our awardees from the College of Arts and Sciences. Will those students awardees from the College of Arts and Sciences please stand and proceed to the right of the podium? Uh, Dean Wetski please come to the podium to present the awardees from your college. President Broad Meadow, the following students in the College of Arts and Sciences have received the following prestigious award. >> Kevin Clint Boachi, James J. Burke Jr. Memorial Award, Demovic Science Award. >> [applause] [applause] >> Kaden Brower American History Award. [applause] Alexander Duchaine, Presidential Fellow, [applause] Sarah D. Jarro Board of Fellows Award. [applause] Natalie Hootmaker firstear student award. [applause] Anakah Hubard firstear student award. Professor Ted Mosden firstear math award. [applause] >> Javier exclaw firstear student award. [applause] Brendan Gilbert firstear student award. [applause] Aelia Canal, Presidential Fellow, Demovic Math Award. [applause] Cassidy Kitridge Firstear Student Award. >> [cheering] [applause] >> Alexandra Lesley Sophomore Award. [applause] Ma Lindpickler Demovic Science Award. [applause] Austin McCormack Mary E. Hop Award for Excellence in General Chemistry. [applause] Ble McUade firstear student award. [applause] Sami Molu, Presidential Fellow, [applause] Megan Ray, David Anderson Prize, [applause] Dana Regan, Firstear student award. [applause and cheering] Nyx Richie firstear student award. [applause] Aaron Strait firstear student award. >> [applause] >> Sophia Taylor, Presidential Fellow, [applause] [cheering] >> Jose Velasco, Board of Fellows Award, Demovic Science Award. >> [applause] [applause] >> And this concludes the awardees from the College of Arts and Sciences. [applause] Thank you, Dr. Mark Parker. And congratulations to our awardees. Will awardees from the College of Professional Schools please stand and proceed to the right of the platform. Dean Tempmpkin, please come to the podium to present the awardees from your college. Thank you, Dr. Mark Parker. I'm sorry. Um, President Broadmet, the following students in the College of Professional Schools have received the following prestigious awards. Porter Birkkins, Professor Frank Vanichek, Visiting Committee Award. [applause] Adam Coburn, firstear student award. [applause] Cade Crawford. Sophomore Award. Kyle Dufek. Earnest N. Harmon engineering award. [cheering] [applause] >> Kylie Ferris, William Higgins III scholarship. [applause] >> Hayden Heinrich, Presidential Fellow. [applause] Ethan Hiltz firstear student award. [applause] >> Noah Hubner David and Nimoose Family Scholarship. [applause] Victoria Jarvis, presidential fellow. [applause] >> Brian Crumb, David and Nina Loose Family Scholarship. [applause] Jack Lang firstear student award. [applause] Samuel Larson firstear student award. [applause] Anna Lemler Caldry Creative Writing Award. [applause] [applause] Zachary Foven, Professor Frank Frank Vanichek, Visiting Committee. [applause] >> Fata Cuadri, Presidential Fellow, [applause] Michaela Watson. Sophomore Award. >> [applause] >> Natalie Willis firstear student award. [applause] And this concludes the awardees from the College of Professional Schools. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Dr. Mark Parker. And congratulations to all our awardees. And now I'd like to welcome Provost Williams back to the podium. >> Okay. Well, it's always really uplifting to see all those students being recognized for academic excellence. So, let's give them one more collective round of applause. [applause] Okay, now we get to do some group awards. So, uh, the Dean McIntyre Cup is awarded to the company of the core of cadetses whose firstear platoon has attained the highest quality point average for the previous semester. This year, it is awarded to Hotel Company. >> [applause] >> Accepting this award for hotel company is Cadet Captain Mason Dills, hotel company commander. [applause] >> Parents are Oh, darn. Um, there's >> there's no No. Come on. Come on. We're still gonna We're gonna shake on it. We're going to be celebratory. [cheering] [applause] >> All righty then. Um, it's a lot. We like the the bling of the trophy, uh the cup. We'll have to reenact that at a later occasion. I apologize, hotel company. Uh but we still are recognizing your uh impressive achievements. So congratulations. Okay. Um and now the white cup, just picture it in your mind's eye. Um, it is awarded to the company of the core of cadetses whose upper class students have earned the highest grade point average for the previous semester. Awarded to Echo Company. [applause and cheering] [applause] Accepting this award, we picture it in our hands here, is Cadet Captain Maria, and help me say your name correctly. >> Picaric, uh, echo company commander. >> Congratulations. [applause] Okay, then. Um, thank you to all of you for your hard work. Uh, we now are going to pass to the next part of the program. I'd like to welcome President Broad Meadow, just checking that the awards are there, uh, to the podium for staff recognition. >> And I think there's something under my chair, too. >> Good. I got that for later, sir. >> Okay. >> All right. So, let let's start by another round of applause for our student awardees and for our companies out there. Well done. [applause] Provos Williams, if you'll forgive me, I'm going to go off script for one minute. Uh, and I hope I'm not embarrassing him. Jean, would you stand up? So, ladies and gentlemen, one of the things we do here at this school is honor our legacy. And we are joined today completely um by surprise. Somebody that that decided to visit is Mr. Gene Ward, class of 1949. So, think about that. [applause] [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> So, I hope you don't have to be a history major to appreciate what kind of legacy the class of 1949 is. But let me just add a couple of things. Jean was also the cadet colonel his uh his year when he was here. So, and a challenge for all of you, no one cheers louder at any of our football games or our hockey games than Jean. So, I sit right next to him and my ears hurt by the time we're done listening to Jean cheer. The challenge is you have to out cheer Jean. Okay. All right. So next, what I would like to do is recognize our hardworking staff members. In particular, the recipients of the Kathleen K. Bowen staff awards for 2026. In 2026, K. Bowen staff recognition awards honored three Norwich University employees whose dedication to service, professionalism, and our community reflects the enduring legacy of the awards namesake. Will this year's recipients please come to the stage? We have two of the three. Sarah Harris, director of financial aid. Vanessa Mil Middleton, student experience coordinator for administrative support, and Mario Callahan, custodians for service, were selected from a pool of 33 nominations across the university. Each nominee embodies the qualities long associated with K. Bowen, a student life staff member who served at Norwich for [music] 35 years. Ladies, I'd like to present you with just a little token to say thank [applause] And now I'd like to welcome Provos Williams back to the podium to recognize something that I'm very proud of our faculty promotions and tenure decisions from the past year. >> Thank you, sir. Okay. Uh this year's convocation is a little different. We always recognize our students and always will, but we did want to call attention to some of the uh contributions from our staff, the Koen award recipients. So, thank you again and also to recognize more publicly the uh promotion in tenure recipients from last academic year. So, I will offer a brief explanation. Uh the faculty members who are about to be recognized went through a rigorous process to earn tenure andor promotion. After years of teaching, scholarship, service, they assembled a lengthy file. Some of them were very lengthy uh that documented their efforts in these three domains. colleagues at the department level, college level, university levels read and discussed their portfolios and passed on a recommendation to me. I then forwarded my recommendations to the president who forwarded them to the board of trustees. The board of trustees is the final uh decision maker regarding promotion and tenure. So you can see it is quite a lengthy process. It starts in October and it ends in almost May. The process of peer review invites thoughtful reflection on the merits of each candidate and their contributions to the university and their fields of expertise. Reading these files and admiring the work done by our faculty is really a highlight of the work I do each year. The doseier show how truly fortunate we are to have such talented academics at this university and they inspire others to achieve excellence as well. When they come up, you will see some faculty wearing the Vermont State Militia uniform while others are not. This variation reflects the makeup of our institution. We have a student body with students in the core and civilian students. All are valued, bring great energy, and make invaluable contributions to our community. The same goes for each faculty member that will soon come to the stage to be recognized. They were selected to teach here for their expertise and promoted for the tremendous value they bring to your academic experience and the quality of our programs. Before I call them up, I will first ask uh Deputy Commandant Colonel William Pasalakqua, class of 1988, member of Vermont State Militia, to provide some context for us about the connection between faculty promotions and the BSM. Thank you, Bill. >> Thank you. >> Well, good afternoon, Gloria [clears throat] Norwich Day. Congratulations academic honores and our academic scholars. I got to give a shout out to Jane Ward. Welcome Jane. Well, it's important to understand how how and why Norwich University has a Vermont State Militia, a tradition where faculty promotions correspond with military ranks. In 1819, Captain Alden Partridge founded what became known as Norwich University. After Vermont chartered Norwich in 1834, Norwich students became increasingly connected with the Vermont State Militia. By the early 1840s, they were organized as a light infantry company. That connection became especially significant during the Civil War. Norwich professor Alonzo Jackman rose to command Vermont's militia forces and Norwich cadetses served as drill masters throughout the state. Norwich graduates also served prominently including at least six who commanded Vermont regiments. In 1898, Vermont formally recognized Norwich as a military college of Vermont and established military rank for faculty corresponding to their academic positions. That legislation provides the foundation for the military rank tradition we continue today. So, as we recognize today's promotions, we are also honoring the connection between Vermont's citizen soldier tradition, Alden Partridge's educational vision, and Norwich's identity as our nation's senior most prestigious military college. That is the tradition that we carry today. Thank you, Nor. I welcome back Provos Williams to the podium. [applause] Okay. Will our promoted and tenured faculty please come to the stage. All right, this is fun. We haven't done this before. Uh, okay. The following faculty are being recognized as professors of practice. Professor Tony Rafty, leadership, business and management, CGCS. She could not be here today. Professor Vanna Barrett, International Affairs, CGCS. The following faculty were promoted from lecturer to senior lecturer. Professor Angie Carpenter Henderson, Health and Human Performance. Sorry, I realized I skipped, but there they are. Okay, apologies. Uh, Professor Shantel Ekhouse, mathematics. Dr. Steven Herodic, sociology. He could not be here today. Dr. Irene Nam, chemistry and biochemistry, could not be here today. The following faculty were promoted from assistant professor to associate professor. Professor Professor Linda Ratzup MBA interdisciplinary studies CGCS could not be present. Dr. Paige Spece, Associate Vice President for Academics, CGCS. Dr. Diane Zory, Strategic Studies and Defense Policy, CGCS. she could not be here today. The following faculty were promoted from assistant to associate professor and from major to lieutenant colonel. Dr. Matthew Fischer, criminology and criminal justice could not make it today. Dr. Sarah Galant, chemistry and biochemistry. Dr. Galant was also awarded tenure. Dr. Scott Smith, mechanical engineering. Dr. Smith also was awarded tenure. We'll let them work on that while we continue here. The following faculty were promoted from associate to professor. Professor Jason Gall Galligan Baldwin architecture and art. Dr. Lynn Kieran nursing. Professor Talia Stonerof, Architecture and Art. The following faculty were promoted from Associate to Professor and from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel. Dr. Sha uh pardon me, Dr. Sha Kramer, mathematics. Dr. Carl Martin, English. Dr. Carolina Parees Espirino, mechanical engineering. We have at the end of the line, Dr. Matthew Boove. Sir, he is an associate professor of computer security and information assurance. He has just been awarded tenure. Please join me in giving a very large round of applause for our faculty. [applause] Thank you. [applause] Thank you so much. I think we got everybody. Yes. Okay. Yep. Oh, nope. We'll just pause for a moment. Okay. [laughter] We are new to this uh as as you could see, but uh practice will um make improvements. Hopefully, this will become a tradition. Okay. Thank you so much. All right, [applause] we got it. [applause] And I would like to recognize this was our Dana professors helping to uh award um uh these promotions and and tenure. So, thank you Dana professors. [applause] Okay, I now get to welcome back to the podium President Brock Meadow to make his remarks. >> Thank you. >> It's a little messy. >> Well, so just that I'm that's something I'm particularly proud of. You know, for those of you that walk around this campus and you see the military uniforms, those of you that are in the core of cadetses or even our civilian students that have an appreciation for what it takes that you see the military rank and you understand things. But I I want you to understand what just happened up here very clearly. Okay? Uh our academics are in a profession that many of you hope to strive to be in. Theirs is academia. Yours may be something different. But throughout life, you're hoping to achieve bigger and greater things. That's what I hope for you, and I hope you want that for yourself. What we just saw up here today was a demonstration of professionals achieving new levels of excellence. And we're fortunate in that we get to see them wear it tangibly on military uniforms but also through their professional titles that they that they carry uh as professors or or the other titles that they carry. I want you to understand that that is something that is very very important to an institution like this and we are particularly blessed with a cadre of faculty that exemplify that professionalism that we just recognized today. So let's have another round of applause for not only our academic professionals but all our students. [applause] [applause] So I've been sitting up here looking around and watching all of you. I'm watching this gathering of students, faculty, and staff, and I'm reminded of something that Jose just spoke about the importance of relationships in education. But I want to focus on what relationships make possible, the success and growth of you, our students. When I walk across this campus, I see that partnership everywhere. I see students staying late in laboratories work working alongside their faculty who are deeply committed to learning and discovery. I see staff members who know our students by name and take pride in your progress. I see our faculty who teach far more than a subject. They teach students who know how to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and approach complicated problems with confidence. students. Everyone gathered here today believes in what you are capable of. We believe not only in the abilities that you will bring with you, but in the knowledge, skills, and confidence that you will build throughout this academic year. Faculty and staff, you play an essential role in that development. every office hour, every conversation, every piece of thoughtful feedback, and every time you help a student recognize a strength that they did not know that they had can make a lasting difference. Students, I really want you to focus on this because this ceremony is really about you in this coming year. Make the most of the opportunities around you. Don't simply complete assignments. Engage with the ideas behind them. Don't just attend your classes. Attend your classes. I want you all to go to class, okay? But don't just attend classes. Become a part of an intellectual community. That's what you're here for. Think about that. You are now part of an intellectual community represented by this university. Ask difficult questions. Examine your assumptions, be willing to take intellectual risks, and consider perspectives that may challenge you. That's the greatest part about being here. I look around this room and I see a lot of different perspectives. You can all learn from one another as much as from our faculty and staff. Our faculty and staff continue to do what you do so well, recognizing the potential in our students and helping them develop that potential into achievement. The partnerships and connections that the provost described in detail are at the heart of what makes this university very successful. This year, let's work together to create an environment in which every single student has the opportunity to succeed. Every faculty member has this the support to pursue meaningful work and every staff member knows that their contribution matters. Our shared responsibility is to prepare the students in this room to become thoughtful, capable leaders who will help shape the future. Welcome to this new academic years. Let's make this a meaningful one. You're supposed to applaud. >> [applause] [applause] >> So, we're moving toward the end of the ceremony. What I'd like to do is ask Shawn Apprentice, professor of English, to share a poem, which feels perfect as we begin this new year together. Professor Apprentice, will you please come up to the podium John? Good afternoon. >> I'd like to share a poem by Marge Percy with you all. The title is doors opening closing on us. Maybe there is more of the magical in the idea of a door than in the door itself. It's always a matter of going through into something else. But while some doors lead to cathedrals arching up overhead like stormy skies, and some to sumptuous auditoriums, and some to caves of nuclear monsters, most just yield a bathroom or a closet. Still, the image of a door is liinal, passing from one place into another, one state to the other. boundaries and promises and threats. Inside to outside, light to dark, dark into light, cold into warm, known into strange, safe into terror, wind into stillness, silence into noise or music. We slice our life into segments by rituals, each a door to a presumed new phase. We see ourselves progressing from room to room, perhaps dragging our toys along until the last door opens and we pass at last into was. Thank you. [applause] We are grateful to have all of you in our Norwich community. And now I'd like to invite Provos Williams back to the podium. [applause] >> Okay, we truly are getting close to the end of the ceremony. I promise. Uh we are going to uh in an exciting move here welcome to the stage to lead you in the singing. So ready your voices um of our alma mater. Please welcome the choir. [applause] There you go. >> [music] >> nor [singing] [music] forever. Queen of the hills when [singing] far from [music] thee. Still memory thrills recalling scenes [music] and old [singing] friendship, songs and old cheers. Meories that fade [singing] not through the changing years. [applause] All >> [applause] >> right. At commencement, we salute graduates and families with the rendering of the graduation salute by the Norwich Artillery Battery. Today at convocation, we're going to fire the cannons to celebrate the opening of the new school year. The first salute will signal support of our faculty and staff and student success in the academic year. The second salute is for today's award recipients. So stand by. Don't be surprised. Therefore, in the words of Admiral George Dwey, Norwich University class of 1856, you may fire when ready. >> And that concludes today's convocation ceremony. >> [applause] >> Please stay at your seats until the platform party has recessed. Please remember to take any personal belongings with you on your way out. The platform party and the faculty may now begin the recessional down the center aisle to exit. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. [music] Heat. >> [music]